What caught our attention was a mention of the Gear smartwatch lineup, and Samsung’s reported wanting of its compatibility with smartphones from all of the different Android manufacturers, not just its own devices.

As of right now, Samsung only allows Gear watches to be connected to Samsung smartphones, namely the Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 3, and a handful of others that are Bluetooth 4.0 capable.

In the future, it looks like Samsung wants to open up compatibility, meaning that regardless of who makes your phone (as long as it features the right hardware/software combo for connectivity), then a Gear smartwatch will be connectible. No additional details on which smartwatch or if any of its current offerings will be compatible in the future, but this is actually a huge step for Samsung in breaking down its own walls to other OEMs.

There is no doubt that sales of Samsung’s smartwatches could see an uptick if they were compatible with a larger number of devices. The hardware is sweet, the software is extensive, and the majority of the buying public probably trusts a name like Samsung.

If the Gear 2 or Gear Neo were made available for your current device, would you buy one? As for me, I would certainly consider it.

They kinda have to whether they want to or not. Once android Wear gets pushed out and the Moto360 and G watch are released, nobody is going to be looking to buy a smart watch that only works on 1 brand and maybe 3 or 4 specific phones in that brand, when they can get more functionality from a better platform.

hennrymark

Gear watches only work with Samsung phones. HOWEVER there are some folks
who have been able to root their Gear watches and install custom ROMs
which have allowed them to use the watch with other Android phones.

n900mixalot

All you need w/ a Gear Fit is to install a modded APK on your phone, but people here have no idea what they’re talking about except for their hatred of all things Apple, and all things Samsung.

Oh, now they want it to work with the rest. It should of been that way from the beginning. Those clowns think they’re Apple. No wonder they’re always getting sued by Apple… =|

frankyblike

Who on earth would buy such ugly useless crap?

blakjakdavy

They should make it work with the iPhone as well. Take market share from apple should they ever actually make a watch.

cgalyon

I would consider the Fit, but like others, probably still wait for the Moto 360 first to see what it will do.

James_75

My sentiments exactly.

calculatorwatch

Yeah the fit appeals to me because it’s pretty sleek and not too expensive. The Moto 360 looks great but unless it’s $200 or less it will probably be out of my price range

n900mixalot

I own the Fit. It’s a good device but you might be expecting more. It’s more about dramatic looks and the extreme basics, than it is about being a solid, all-around fitness band. Does that make sense? It’s kind of a “you have to try it out” scenario.

Todd

I would definitely consider buying one.

Ryan N

The saying strike while the iron is hot… apparently doesn’t translate in Korean.

Frettfreak

great, when they make one with android wear and its compatible with whatever phone i may want to use, i may consider it. till then, not a chance in HELL

I’m sure they aren’t the only company to inflate on occasion. But back to Tizen. If they were really hell bent on making Tizen a thing, they wouldn’t be planning on releasing an Android Wear device. Or just release Tizen in emerging markets.

­­Martin

They’re taking it slow. They know they’d sink if they went full on out with Tizen so they’re taking it easy.

n900mixalot

In all seriousness, Samsung probably wants their own focus on Android to be more of an afterthought, and less of their bread and butter. And btw, Tizen on the Gear 2 runs better than Android ever has on the original Galaxy Gear … In terms of “bloat” it is REALLY streamlined in comparison to Android.

Frettfreak

prove it. not defending samsung, but i havent seen this. they report numbers of units THEY sell. No, not how many have been sold to customers. THEIR customers are the carriers and retailers. Thats not faking sales numbers, thats called business.

no…they don’t ….if they did they would have done that from the start…..last year with the first devices. They made 3 other devices and NONE still support other Android devices a year later…. They’re full of it

I think it took the Gear’s apparent failure for Samsung to realize that openness could be a means for success.

Good_Ole_Pinocchio

They’ve been bank rolling with android forever. they should know openness means success. But you can tell they want to go Vertical…like Apple. They need to realize where their mobile bread is buttered.

Frettfreak

THIS!!! They are not apple. They sell a lot of phone, but i havent heard one person that really LOVES their samsung phone like people love apple (not me, but people do obviously) or even HTC. Samsung shouldnt forget what GOT them to where they are (and it wasnt tizen)

hfoster52

Samsung is a company and they want you to buy into their eco system so you will always go to them for the next big thing. As you stated look at apple for a good example of that. I don’t blame them for doing what they did since they have 10’s of millions S4’s, Note 2’s, and Note 3’s that may want a smart watch. While closing out other vendors shuts them out from other vendors the numbers don’t lie. Issue they didn’t see happening was the people that love Samsung’s phone not jumping on the chance for a smart watch and then other people with different brands saying what about me I want a smart watch. Having owning a Galaxy Gear I see the draw for a Gear 2.

Blue Sun

I think that they are reluctantly opening it up to generate more sales. The Samsung 2014 Q2 phone running Tizen OS will not be nearly as open as Android.

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